Wednesday, December 12, 2018

It's been a hectic last couple of weeks in DC and at Coalition for Juvenile Justice. Last week was our 2018 National Disproportionate Minority Contact (DMC) Conference in Baltimore. I've been to a few different conferences in my college career, but I was never behind the scenes for them.

It's a ridiculous amount of planning and coordination. Making name tags, registering attendees, putting together packets, confirming with speakers is just the short list of things we did in preparation.

The conference lasted three days, and we had over 300 attendees from 45 different states and territories throughout the week. I had the unique honor of getting to run around the plenary session with a microphone during the "Question and Answer" time. This was probably my favorite part, because it was a very visible position.

The conference was exhausting but worth every second. I got to wine and dine with industry professionals, sit in a few breakout sessions and learn about juvenile justice successes across the country. I got to meet keynote speaker Cara Drinan, who wrote an incredible book about youth incarceration.

Now, for outside of work activities, the list goes on. I took a bus and train home for Thanksgiving to celebrate with my family, went to a Washington Post live chat about criminal justice reform, went axe throwing with my boss and coworkers (an amazing stress relief, I definitely recommend), went to a sports bar, walked around Georgetown twice, got brunch (more than once), ate incredible macaroons, went to happy hour, watched a beautiful sunset in NoMa, celebrated Dia de los Muertos at the National Portrait Gallery, met up with friends from Bloomsburg, went to global festival at TWC, and ate an embarrassing amount of gyros and teriyaki chicken from food trucks near my office.

All in all, this experience has changed my life. I found direction, and I found my passion working with youth justice reform and helping provide equitable outcomes for at-risk youth.

I wouldn’t trade this experience for the world and would extend my stay here indefinitely if I could. I have met so many wonderful people from all around the country and world, and I hope I will get to see them again in the near future. It's been an incredible few months down in our nation’s capital, but it’s time to come home and finish up my four years at Bloomsburg then graduate in May.

Thank you so much to The Washington Center, the Coalition for Juvenile Justice, and Bloomsburg University for bringing me to this point. Go Huskies!!

Thanksgiving went by smoother than I anticipated. I knew it would be tough to spend the first major holiday away from my family, but it helped that I was in a country that didn’t celebrate Thanksgiving, as well as being surrounded by amazing people.

Although most of the students on my flat are not from the United States, they all shared in our tradition the next day, and we all went out for a nice deal in town for Friendsgiving. It was a night full of laughs, pasta and really sweet crepes. It’s hard to believe time has gone by so quickly, but I know that’s because I’m enjoying myself so much.

I’ve realized some new things about myself, but those were mostly trying out new things, etc. In the last few weeks, I’ve realized why being abroad on your own can bring such a fundamental change within people; it’s because you’re forced to be by yourself at times when you would usually have people.

To hear out the thoughts you had been putting off for months. You’re forced to do things on your own you never had to do by yourself. At one point during the summer I did not think I would be able to come to England, because I was battling health issues. I overcame those and was able to come, but I found myself feeling sick one late evening and was forced to go to the hospital by myself. I ended up going on a 40 pound ($50) taxi adventure, because I first went to a private hospital that I could not be seen at only to end up at a hospital I might’ve had to pay out of pocket for. All at 1 a.m. But I didn’t have a choice or someone to hold my hand, I had to do it. I was forced to experience that, and I hope I’ll grow from realizing how grateful I am to have people by my side during difficult times. That’s the beautiful thing about being abroad, life pushes you a little harder and you’re forced to grow.

The most intriguing and important part of studying abroad is, of course, the ‘studying’ part. Coming to a whole new country also means being introduced to a whole new education system. I have undoubtedly been challenged, confused, but also infused with excitement to retain all of this new information in a different format.

My main course of studies at the University of Essex, in Colchester, England, are Performance and Communications, so under this umbrella I took one theatre class, Models of Practice, a literature and drama class, Origins and Transformations of Literature and Drama, and a media class, Approaches to Film and Media. As a mental health advocate, I also wanted to venture into the mental health views in England, and I also purely wanted to learn more about it, so I took a psychology class, Emotion.

The structures England has for education, at least the part of England the University of Essex is in, is based on a very independent learning style. There is significantly less coursework, and no strategic attendance policy. The general term for the class as a whole is a “module.”

The module is set up into two different halves: one is a lecture, of which, every other lecture a different professor will be presenting their area of expertise, and the other half is called a “class,” which is very similar to our general teaching/learning style: one professor, and 30 or less students in a more laid-back, personalized session. A student generally has one lecture and one class every week, but as aforementioned, attendance is not as eminent as it is in most of the Uni’s here in the States.

Some professors can, however, count attendance as a percentage of the module, most likely if it's a class like Theatre, where participation is imperatively necessary. Further on, when attending the class, the student has to “tap in,” which means to wave their student ID card on a black sensor in the room to track their attendance.

Lastly, just to share some fun facts about the finals week here in England: We have almost no quizzes/tests throughout the semester, just one approximately 10 page research essay, and a two-hour exam during their finals week. Again, professors can add a test or coursework here and there, but it's only one to two times within the semester, for revision purposes … and that’s another positively intriguing thing: they don’t say “study” here, they say “revise” like “I have so much revision to do for exams” etc!

In totality, I have found this way of education to be so lovely and refreshing, but also very stressful. I felt as if I had so much more time on my hands, with how their scheduling was and the less coursework/attention to attendance, but I also felt very behind in my studying mostly because this independent way of education is very self-management heavy. I relentlessly learned how to stop procrastinating more (but not completely, of course, I’m still the average college student), and how to put more pride and enjoyment into what I am learning.

England has honestly been so encouraging to not merely remember material, but to actually retain it and believe in, or even challenge, what is being taught.

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

Hey, it’s me! Well you, four years from now. I know you think college graduation is so far away, but let me tell you … it will be here in a blink of an eye. I know, because that’s exactly how I felt at this time four years ago. And here we are, Jenna. Days away from graduating college, and I never thought this day would come this soon. I still clearly remember being anxious to graduate high school. And yet, again with the butterflies of wondering what’s next in store. No worries. It’s going to be okay. I know, because I’ve made it this far.

Jenna, Bloomsburg University was a great choice

You’re going to have many college choices; but in the end, you’ll select Bloomsburg University. It will be a great decision. This town will truly become a second home. Do yourself a favor though and explore more your freshman year.

Do not wait until junior year to finally go to the Bloomsburg Diner to eat the amazing omelets you love so much and try out Fog and Flame, because they really know how to make those fancy Instagram worthy drinks you always wanted to try. Get more involved freshman year, please don’t wait. I know right now you’re busy with choir, cheerleading, numerous clubs and just want a little break, but you’ll realize real-fast you enjoy being involved and will wish you did more once you reach senior year. Trust me.

And, oh yea … learn all you can from your internship and work-study position with the university’s Office of Marketing and Communications from Tom McGuire and Jaime North, because this will help you discover that you want to work in higher education after graduation.

Jenna, don’t stop making friends
So you’ll realize fast you truly don’t know anyone in college, but you’ll meet so many amazing people as time goes by. Freshman year, leave your door open and meet the people on your floor! I wish more people would have done this sooner, because you’ll meet great people. Like the guys across the hall, who were always nice enough to let my roommate Kaitlyn and I borrow their vacuum, or the girls who lived down the hall, Dannah and Hannah, who will eventually become your roommates. Know that everyone you meet and become friends with will help you in some way and change you for the better.

In class, talk to the people around you and get to know them, you never know when you are going to need a study partner or you might even find one of your closest friends, like Sidney, who you actually end up going on a cruise with. Speaking of the cruise. Go on it! At first you will think it is too much money, but in the end you will be sitting on a beach in the Bahamas so thankful that you went.

Go to Haas Center of the Arts and audition for the Bloomsburg University Choir, because we know how much you like to sing and you will miss it dearly when you no longer do. Go to the activities fair and find an organization called Alpha Phi Omega. This is where you will find “your people.” Alpha Phi Omega is where I found some of my very best friends in college like my senior year roommates, Alicia and Aleigha, plus my big and little, Rachel and Carly, and how I really was able to get involved on campus.Jenna, balance is key

Okay so you know how you told yourself you were going to go to the gym like every day in college and get in shape? Well freshman year you did, but then you got busy with school and barely had time to devote as much time to it as you used to. Make the time because you’ll be less stressed and honestly it will become the “me time” you need each day. Do not get into the habit of procrastinating. I know things come up that sound like better alternatives to studying, but when you see Summa Cum Laude written on your graduation packet you will feel really accomplished and it will all be worth it, trust me (you know you want the honors cords too).

Go to trivia night, why I waited till senior year is beyond me. It’s basically like Jeopardy, but you actually win a prize. Get a job. Working during the summer all the time is not fun, but you are going to need and want the money. College is expensive. I wish I would have worked during the semester earlier because senior year I did, at your favorite restaurant actually, Marley’s, hosting and serving. Not gonna lie, it was rough to balance everything, but having money makes it worth it.

Jenna, calm down. You made it!

You stress too much about the little things. Like your chemistry class the very first semester of college year where you got your first C, but guess what you studied hard and ended the class with an A-. Then there is economics, which will become your minor, these classes will challenge you but we know you like to be challenged. There is the fear you will not graduate on time, but girl you are graduating a semester early because of those AP classes you are in right now. Soon final exams will be over and I will graduate, then I’m off the real world. You made it Jenna! Take a deep breath and enjoy your next few years, because they’ll be some of the best years of your life. Trust me.

Tuesday, December 4, 2018

Growing up in rural Pennsylvania, it seems everywhere you go there are big red barns with giant signs saying “Antiques.” Sometimes antiques are sold at flea markets, or special antique events around the area, but have you ever actually stopped in one?

Of course, at some point in our lives we're all dragged into an antique shop by our parents or grandparents whether we’re 12 or 25 years old, and it seems like the longest day of our lives. However, I would argue if you walked into an antique store by yourself sometime, by your own free will, you’d be pleasantly surprised at the amount of things you find interesting.

It was on one of these “dreadful” outings with my Gram that I began a collection of 1973 Looney Tunes glasses. I always loved Looney Tunes as a kid, and searching for them kept me occupied while antiquing.

They aren’t particularly rare, but they're fun to track down, and it’s a relatively cheap hobby for me. Finding something to collect while you’re antiquing can make it much more interesting.

I know that as “broke college kids,” or soon-to-be “broke college graduates,” we need all the help we can get financially. When it comes to decorating a dorm room, apartment or a new house, sometimes antiques are the cheapest options.

You can ask anyone who watches HGTV, the rustic look is in. Just about anything you would find in an antique shop could be used to decorate a space. There are also plenty of different eras and styles of antiques. You could go for the old, rickety barn look, or maybe look for some more refined vintage pieces.

Many times, the decoration isn’t necessarily meant to be decorative, but it can no longer serve its actual purpose, such as old wheels, unstable rocking chairs, or chipping glassware. It’s fun to find an item you like and come up with a new way to repurpose it.

Some things you find are still completely usable, typically kitchenware. Cast-iron and enamel pots and pans are a dime a dozen at antique shops, and still have a lot of years of use left in them. Buying a cheap set of pots and pans from Walmart is fine, but if you want something with some history and character, go antiquing.

For example, every time I go to my grandparents’ house, my Grandpa makes buttermilk pancakes on a cast-iron skillet. I’ll have to invest in one soon so I can make them the same way, because they just don’t turn out the same in a nonstick pan.

The moral of the story is: go antiquing. Try something new with something old. You don’t have to do things the same way as your grandparents, but antiques are treasures that never lose their value, even when they’re broken. Make your space your own by repurposing old things.

P.S. Despite what Grandma says, the fine china isn’t only for decoration, you can use that too.

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

I, Carolann Green, have made it to my second placement. Now it’s just eight weeks and 19 third graders standing between me and graduation!

Let me tell you, they’re just such wonderful third graders! I have spent about four weeks with them now, and they are so great. If student teaching was supposed to help me determine what grade I wanted to teach after graduating it’s not helping! Although second graders and third graders are very different curriculum and behavior wise they are both just wholesome and pure ages to work with.

Anyways, these third graders really are just a great bunch of students. I know I keep repeating myself, but they deserve the praise! One student has gotten me into Harry Potter, and we discuss it every morning. Another tries to teach me how to floss — although I'm not very good at it — I get to see him laugh at my horrible dance moves!

Another student makes it a POINT to say good morning to me every morning. I want to cry! They are so amazing!

Also, I thought I learned a lot from my first co-op, but here I am with my third grade co-op and she also has so much to offer. She taught me this teaching strategy called whole brain teaching (it’s AMAZING, you must google it) that just gets the children so engaged by using motions and repetition.

I have my plate full with lesson planning and teaching too! I dressed up in a ridiculous Albert Einstein costume to kick off multiplication. I made a mess of the classroom having children trace their spelling words in flour, and I got to teach the children about some local history for social studies!

Friday, November 2, 2018

When I first stepped outside the airport into the English air I was … surprised.

It wasn’t what I expected. I expected to feel a significant difference that would mark the beginning of my adventure abroad. I was disappointed, but that was all soon forgotten as I took in the London streets as they swooshed by through my Uber window.

I told myself later on that it was silly to think the air would be different, and that didn’t take away from the fact London was beautiful and worthy of happy tears. Three weeks later, I’m walking home with my friends one evening and notice something; the air.

It was different, somehow. It dawned on me perhaps it wasn’t the air that was different at all, but rather myself.

I’ve been in England for a little over a month now. Although it feels like I just got here, it also feels like I’ve been here forever. I’m still finding new things to ponder over, while I’m hanging out with people who can pass as lifelong friends.

I have learned so much about myself in such a short amount of time, it’s somewhat baffling. I’ve faced hardships that made me wish I could book a ticket home. I found out I actually really like coffee after years of believing I could only stand it in Frappe form. I’ve gained unconventional friendships and unfortunately lost some in the process.

And to my surprise, found what I believe I want to pursue after graduation.

I was so nervous to come abroad and leave everything I felt comfortable with behind, but I’m more thankful I did with every day that passes. I’m thankful I didn’t run home when things got difficult, because now I’m surrounded by amazing individuals and learning incredible things.

Monday, October 29, 2018

Three weeks ago was the H Street Festival, which was postponed from September because of Hurricane Florence. It spans several blocks with live music, food tents and trucks, and other vendors. It gave me just a small taste of the Bloomsburg Fair, which I sadly was not able to make it home for. I tried Jamaican jerk chicken for the first time (which was incredibly spicy but absolutely delicious) and watched this cool African band Chieck Hamala Diabate.

The weekend after I went to a Washington Wizards game at the Capital One Arena. It was my first NBA game, and I loved every second of it. We were in the nosebleed seats at the very top section, but it was still a great time anyway. The game was competitive to the last second, but the Wizards lost. We’re going to see them again this weekend when they play Oklahoma City Thunder!

This past weekend was Global Festival at TWC. It’s an event that gives interns in the program the opportunity to cook some of their food from home, and then a talent show to showcase their country. I believe there are over 40 different countries represented this semester from several different regions of the world.

The hardest part about making international friends is how far away they are when the program ends, but it gives you an excuse to make travel plans.

Brunch is a huge thing in D.C. Most restaurants will typically do a two-hour bottomless brunch that includes brunch food, mimosas, and Bloody Mary's. The place we went to is called Bar Charley’s, and I got to see some fellow BU alum living in D.C. and Philly. We went to a Latin dance club in Northwest, and I must have danced for three hours. My legs are actually sore.

I might be biased, but D.C. is the best city in the world. I love the accessibility to Baltimore, Philly, Maryland, and Virginia. My mom, brother, and soon to be sister in law came down to Silver Spring to visit me and grab brunch. Just four stops on the metro, and I was in Maryland. I love how easy it is to get places and see other states with just a quick metro, bus, or Uber ride. If you ever find yourself in downtown Silver Spring, you have to stop at McGinty’s Pub House. Their hash browns were so good.

That’s all for now, it’s finally starting to get chilly down here, so I’m excited to see D.C. in the fall!

Did you ever have one of those moments where you sit in your car and just have a good cry?

Well, that was me around 3:45 yesterday in the school parking lot. I was not crying out of stress or anger, but I was ugly crying because I had to say goodbye to 19 second graders that have a permanent spot in my heart.

Yesterday was my last day in second grade, and I move onto third grade tomorrow. I mean I'm staying in the same school — and when it really comes down to it — I'll see them in the hallways but STILL there I was blubbering like a baby in my car (I'm a rather sensitive person so just bare with me.)

Reflecting on how they started in the beginning of the school year and how they ended yesterday, they have progressed so well in my opinion. I went from saying “shh” 100 times a lesson to giving them a verbal reminder twice a day to raising their hand and turning around in their seats!

One of my students who would cry about something every single day has shed ZERO tears in the last two days! Another student who shows NO emotion whatsoever gave ME a hug and invited me to his birthday party!

I’m tired and coffee is running through my veins, but it was all worth it. The constant reflecting and my 47-page unit plan were all worth it.

I was immersed in topics and activities like:

exploring maps and globes

the ever dreaded common core mathematics (which actually isn’t that bad and has immensely improved my own math skills)

the butterfly life cycle

... and I even got to meet a famous children’s author Marty Kelley.

I can’t forget to give credit to my wonderful teacher who I worked under. She is such a wonderfully organized teacher that I have no excuse NOT to be on top of my stuff when I get my own classroom. I’m just so happy this is my life. I may have grey hairs, but my heart is truly full!

Tuesday, October 23, 2018

This past summer I worked at a camp where I met a college student from Illinois. Somehow through conversation I found out she had never seen a waterfall. That’s when I decided we’re going to Ricketts Glen.

Ricketts Glen State Park is a not-so-hidden gem in our own backyard. It’s located about 45 minutes north of Bloomsburg and is full of fun (and free!) activities.

I’ve probably hiked all or most of the 7.2-mile Falls Trail System at least 25 times in my life, and my family visits Lake Jean at least once a year to go kayaking. Hiking at Ricketts Glen is my favorite thing to do. If I’m planning on walking slowly, I make sure to bring my camera along to take some beautiful nature shots.

Ricketts Glen is mostly known for its 26 miles of hiking trails, especially the Falls Trail System — home to 22 waterfalls on a 7.2-mile loop. There are multiple places to begin and end, and you don’t have to hike the whole thing if you don’t want to.

The waterfalls on the Falls Trail range in size from 11-feet-tall, to the monstrous 94-foot Ganoga waterfall. I love seeing the look on people’s faces when I take them hiking for the first time.

The whole time they ask, “Is that the big waterfall?”

I always reply, “You’ll know when we get to it.”

Photos never quite do it justice, either.

Autumn is one of the best times of year to visit Ricketts Glen, because it boasts some beautiful foliage when the leaves start to turn. According to some reports, this year could be one of the best seasons for it!

This year, I found most colorful leaves at Ricketts Glen were on the trails and near the Western Boat Launch of Lake Jean. During the summer though, Lake Jean is definitely the place to be.

There are multiple cabins and campsites, and a beach for those who can’t make it to the ocean over summer vacation. The beach has sand, water and a lifeguard. The only difference between Lake Jean and the Jersey Shore is a boardwalk!

From Memorial Day until Labor Day there is a concession stand and rental station where you can rent boats, kayaks, paddle-boats and canoes. The cabins and campsites are open most of the year, and the lake is open year-round to those with their own boats to go boating or fishing.

Like I said, the park is open year-round. However, hike at your own risk!

The Falls Trail System is the most difficult trail in the park and can lead to serious injury if you’re not careful. Another thing to note is no cell phone service in the park. If you get injured, calling 911 should still work, however it will take responders quite a bit of time to reach your location since there is a lack of access roads for vehicles and ATVs.

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

I have always loved traveling with my family, but this year I am experiencing it for the first time independently! From the gorgeous views, to the complicated reality of traveling, I am reveling in it all! I come from a very cultural background, while also being first-generation American, but I wanted to venture out and discover some nuances in this vast world.

London

Spending about four days in London, the capital of the country, has opened my eyes in a tremendous way- I am in utter awe from its culture. Living in Brixton, through the lovely AirBnB I booked, I met very intriguing people, and was in the center of street art and urban life of the younger generations. Venturing out to Central London, my eyes were dry from not being able to miss a second of the views: the London Eye, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, the Seven Dials Shopping Centre, Piccadilly Circus area, and the British Museum. I took a risk and had some adventures to find the less well known but yet still incredibly intriguing parts of London such as Neal’s Yard; the pub covered in flowers from floor to ceiling, The Churchill Arms; the extravagant luxurious hotel, the St. Pancras International.

Lastly, regarding my career track, I took on new adventures in London. I enrolled in screen actor workshops at The Actors’ Centre in Covent Garden. I got further information about the differences between acting for the stage, and acting for the screen. I was actually incredibly blessed to be able to get perspectives of other acting instructors than the ones I was used to in the U.S. I also saw what was probably the most hilarious mistake-driven show ever- The Play That Goes Wrong. Internationally known, but native to London, this show takes any and every mistake possible with the technical and actor elements of a theatre production, and creates a hilarious show about it! There was the stage manager that ended up filling in for an actor, some props getting lost and sets breaking, the actor constantly wanting the spotlight, and so many more hilarious stereotypical things that can go wrong- and they made it go so right!

Finally, three trains and a bus later, I got myself into what the University of Essex calls, “Freshers Week.” Tune in to the BU Blog in a few weeks, when I share a little bit about the education system in England!

To me, it is a privilege to see and capture the beauty in this world...

I’m about a month into the job now, and I’m finally starting to get a feel for what the job is like. I got the internship through this program called The Washington Center. It’s sort of like an internship liaison with career counselors to review your resumes and then send it out to internship sites that have partnerships with TWC.

I interviewed with three other sites, got other offers but I ended up going with the Coalition for Juvenile Justice. CJJ is a nonprofit that is touchpoint for juvenile justice coordinators in all 50 states. The most pleasant surprise about my job thus far is how many learning opportunities (or field trips as we like to call them) I’ve had so far. I get to sit in on webinars with professionals all over the country presenting their own research.

Just this week I went to a panel of formerly incarcerated women and the struggles they faced trying to break into higher education. The spokesperson of this organization is actually Allison Williams (who you might know from Girls and Get Out) that spoke at the panel I attended. Part of my job is monitoring policy that's proposed on the federal level to see how it impacts youth. I have come to like this part, which is a relief to me because I'm planning on attending graduate school in the fall for my Master’s in Public Administration.

The other part of my job is communications, meaning I put the stuff that I learn in these webinars and panels on CJJ’s Twitter and Instagram. I recently learned how to use Canva to make flyers/infographics/Instagram posts, which might be my favorite part so far. Look at CJJ’s twitter and Instagram to see some of the tweets I wrote and Canva posts I made for our October Youth Justice Action Month 31 facts project!

As for the DMC Conference, DMC stands for Disproportionate Minority Contact. It's one of the focus areas for all 50 states to address issues of why there is a disproportionate number of minority children impacted by the system and ways that we can combat this. My role in the conference planning thus far is creating content to promote it on social media outlets, reaching out to the presenters to finalize their information, making name badges, editing the program, and finally helping to physically set up the conference when the time comes in late November.

Anyway, that’s all for now. This weekend is the H Street Festival (which was rescheduled due to Hurricane Florence). Check back!

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

I know senior, what a crazy and scary thing to think about. However, it’s honestly the least scary thing to me right now. Bloomsburg University has prepared me well for life after college, and I cannot thank the school enough for the experiences it offers us. You might be thinking in what ways but specifically here, I'm talking about the Career Intensive Boot Camp.

A few weeks ago I attended Professional U's weekend long career boot camp. I can say I’m very thankful I was able to. I met so many alumni, who I now have connections with. The weekend taught me you could start anywhere and achieve what you want when you put the work into it.

It all started Friday afternoon when we met different peers in a wide selection of departments. During the first two session it was all about teamwork. We worked together in small groups through situations and projects. This was a helpful tool when it comes time to go out into the professional world where teamwork is important!

Following that on Saturday there were many more sessions. Alumni told us about their experiences and how they had the same struggles we did, which helped me breathe a little bit! There were some key things during the Career Intensive Boot Camp that were especially helpful and rewarding to go through; having several alumni panel sessions was definitely one.

Saturday was full of helpful events, particularly the resume and cover letter critique. Normally, most of the time people will be mad if they’re wrong but in a situation like this; I wanted to be. Alumni sat down with us, went through our resume and cover letter, and analyzed it to have us ready for the professional world.

Another part was the mock interview, also with help from alumni. They were asking us interview questions and would then take notes to give us feedback. This was such a helpful tool, because for my next interview I will be able to feel a lot more confident!

To end Saturday, we had an etiquette dinner. Who knew there were so many rules? In the ‘real world,’ some employers may take you to lunch or dinner as your interview and this was a helpful session. I was able to learn the ins-and-outs of eating using the correct utensils, how to hold them or where to put them, and how correctly to rip your bread!

Sunday morning, we were able to network more with alumni and had mock phone interviews as well, since that’s often your first impression with the employer, and to make sure you are not an alien of course! After a long, yet helpful, little stressful two and half days, I finally completed the Career Intensive Boot Camp! All participants received a certificate, which was very rewarding. Knowing I was one of the few students who have completed this — and how it will set me apart from everyone else in the professional world — has given me a lot of confidence! I would recommend anyone who is thinking about it to sign up! It’s so worth it, and I cannot wait to go back in the spring!

Monday, October 1, 2018

The first week of my internship is finally complete. As I said before, my internship will be with the Coalition for Juvenile Justice. It’s a nonprofit organization that advocates for reform in the criminal justice system.

They emphasize on rehabilitation of juvenile offenders and finding alternative options instead of incarceration. My job for the next two weeks is to help prepare for a conference in Texas late next week, and then the DMC Conference in late November.

This Saturday we had the privilege of a White House tour. These tend to be very difficult to get, so it was a pretty exclusive event! We saw the East Room (where receptions, ceremonies, press conferences, weddings, dinners, and concerts are held), Green Room, Blue Room, Red Room, and the State Dining Room.

The halls are filled with portraits of former presidents and first ladies, official china used by presidents, and other artifacts. These pictures are from the East Room and just outside the front door.

It’s been rainy for the past few days here so we haven’t done much other sight seeing besides the White House. Check back for a post about the H Street Festival!

I'm finally a part of a real, fun, chaotic, and happy classroom! I have about 19 children in my second grade classroom I so graciously get to student teach until mid-October.

I'm in my second week, and all I can say is what a joy! Of course, it's a little crazy and I feel like I have to wash my hands every minute but let me tell you I'm sure happy to be here. Already, I get to grade the children’s homework and their tests. I have my own little desk and when I actually have down time I find myself daydreaming of what my very own classroom is going to look like and what posters I will be hanging on my walls.

Before even getting into the classroom I felt myself becoming nervous and feeling unprepared. I mean, yah my professors did all they could to better prepare me for student teaching, including the ever-long lesson plan writing and the abundant amount of group projects but nothing really prepares you until you’re actually in the classroom. Nothing could have prepared me for the fact I'm going to have to remember what I'm teaching that day on top of all the other little things that come along with this career.

For example, there’s one child who needs to take his water bottle to lunch because he can’t drink milk, and there’s two children who are going home at 1 p.m., so they need to have their homework ready in their folders to go home and do not forget to keep an eye on that child because they just sneezed all over their desk, so they need to get up and wash their hands and you have to clean their desk off.

Oh! And don’t forget that child because he needs to go to the nurse, and OH there’s a fire drill today that will interrupt our math lesson? Okay, let me just put that on my list!

In the end, I wouldn’t want it any other way! The moment when you’re in front of the classroom teaching addition or on the floor reading to the children and you get to see them laugh or smile or think is what makes it all worth it. I am constantly finding myself feeling an overwhelming amount of pride and joy when I can see little George or Amy finally understand a concept or when they get excited whipping their hand up in the air because they know the answer to a problem.

Thursday, September 20, 2018

We're fast approaching an annual milestone that molds our university culture with those in the rural realm around us. Each year, people come together for a week from far and wide in the only town in Pennsylvania to celebrate: the Bloomsburg Fair!

I’m from the small town of Benton, about 20 miles north of Bloomsburg. The fair is a huge attraction for us rural neighbors, mainly because you have to drive to Bloomsburg to do anything exciting in the first place. Also, because the surrounding high schools have the whole week off for the fair. If you have never been to "The Fair," I implore you to try it out! Especially if you’re a fan of greasy, fried comfort food on a stick.

Animal lovers have their place at the fair too. There are plenty of barns where you can check out horses, goats, cows, pigs, sheep, chickens, rabbits, and even dogs (if you’re willing to pay a small fee). If you have an interest in antiques, gardening, or art, you should check out the four large, brick exhibit buildings located parallel to the sky ride. The best shopping and knick-knacks are located under the grandstand.

Of course, those aren’t the only attractions at the Bloomsburg Fair. There’s also the area around the track that houses all the carnival games you loved to play as a kid.

Have $10 and some serious carnival skill?

You might just win your significant other the most ginormous teddy bear ever. Or if you’re lacking in the skill department, you could win a keychain … I guess that’s nice too.

If you want an adrenaline rush, try out the carnival rides! The adrenaline comes from the ride, but also from the knowledge that it could (jokingly) break at any second. They are also mostly located at the far end of the track. In all seriousness, the rides are extremely safe, because they have to be inspected so many times for only one week of operation.

The food ... I mean, the food!

The food at the Bloomsburg Fair is possibly its biggest attraction. The food may seem very uniform, but every stand has a specialty, and a group of customers it attracts. Sure, there are TONS of fried food, but there are other delicious options that aren’t batter dipped and fried in oil. There are an abundance of stands selling cheesesteaks, gyros, pizzas, calzones, seafood, and some things you’ve never even heard of.

A few years ago I bought a foot-long hotdog with macaroni and cheese as a topping. There’s a stand where you can purchase a turkey leg. You read that right, you can walk around looking like a Viking. There are also some places that have more of a restaurant atmosphere where you can sit down and eat. Places like these usually have some of the best desserts.

Did you say dessert?

Yes, there are so many choices. There are the typical ice cream stands, and the not-so-typical Penn State Berkey Creamery stand (AKA the most delicious, non-homemade ice cream ever). The fair is also during peak apple season, so apple dumplings are a necessity and are available all over the fair. Another one of my favorites are flavored honey sticks. They’re basically like pixie sticks, but with dozens of different flavors of honey. There are multiple stands with taffy and other candies as well.

As if food and desserts weren’t enough, there are also some great beverages available at the fair. Kohr’s orange juice stands are everywhere, and it’s unlike any orange juice you’ve ever had. There are also multiple local cider mill stands where you can get delicious apple cider. Big Ben’s sodas (blue birch beer in particular) are also very yummy.

Last but not least ... the entertainment

No, I don’t mean people watching, although that has its entertaining moments as well.

There's a free stage located near the main entrance, where plenty of bands, musicians, and performing artists play from mid-morning until the fair closes each night. Marching bands also perform at different times throughout the week.

This year there are eight musicians and performing artists at the grandstand — ahem, Cole Swindell and Brett Eldredge to name two — and there’s also the always competitive tractor and truck pull and the popular, entertaining demolition derby.

Grandstand entertainment requires a ticket, which can be bought on the fair’s website. Got my ticket for Tuesday night and already itching to get there early, so maybe you'll see me down there!

Tuesday, September 4, 2018

It has been quite the eventful weekend here in our nation’s capital! After orientation events concluded on Friday, some of the other interns and I decided to tackle the metro to find our internship sites. One of the biggest rules in DC is how to use the escalators in the metro. If you are on the right side, you are standing. If you are on the left side, you are walking down as the escalator moves. This is important to remember, because D.C. is a very fast-paced city.

Our internship sites weren’t far from the Washington Monument and the White House, so we decided to do some sightseeing.

I was lucky enough to score two tickets for a tour of the Capitol building and the White House for next week so make sure you check back for pictures of the inside! By the end of this day, we had power walked (again, a very fast paced city) almost 10 miles!

Saturday was another busy day, as we did more sightseeing. We walked to the Library of Congress and the Supreme Court Building, which is only a 15 minute walk from our apartment. It is hard to truly gauge the size of the Supreme Court Building because it is absolutely massive. Pictures do not do it justice (no pun intended), as it stands nearly 92 feet tall, 385 feet long, and 304 feet wide. There is a basketball court on the fifth floor that has been named the “Highest Court in the Land”.

I start my internship on Tuesday, so make sure to see next week’s post about my first week on the job!

Friday, August 31, 2018

Hey everyone! My name is Deanna, and I will be blogging my internship experience in Washington, D.C. for the fall semester. I'm currently a senior at Bloomsburg University with a double major in political science and communication studies.

I got my internship through The Washington Center program. TWC provides classes, professional development seminars, networking opportunities, and internship/career counseling for students all around the country and the world. TWC helped me to find my internship with a nonprofit organization known as The Coalition for Juvenile Justice.

We drove over three and a half hours (about four total with the traffic in Maryland) to get to Washington. In the days leading up to move in day, it really felt like I was starting college all over again.

I was moving almost four hours away where I knew nobody. I knew one other student from BU, who was doing the program too (and coincidentally met a third student from BU who was doing the program as well).

Some of the other interns I met on the first day.
I’m in the middle in the light blue shirt!

I was nervous, but I knew I was about to begin the experience of a lifetime.

The first two days so far have been filled with meeting plenty of other interns as well as orientation events and seminars. I went to a few sessions to teach me how to use the metro to get to my internship site and websites to find free/low cost things to do around the city.

So far I have met people from Texas, Wisconsin, New York, Maine, Iowa, Ohio, and international students from Vietnam and Mexico. The rest of welcome weekend will include some adventuring out into the city.

Monday, July 23, 2018

In addition to the stunning sights, one of my most cherished moments of the study abroad tour of Ireland was the fact that we were present during a pivotal time in the country’s history. Ireland voted to repeal the eighth amendment of their constitution, which prohibits abortion. At that time we were in Dublin, Ireland’s lively urban capital with a rich history of its own.

Throughout the entirety of the trip, the passionate campaign signs for both sides of the issue “Vote Yes” and “Vote No” were inescapable across the country. It was both eye-opening and humbling. Coming from the U.S. in 2018, you can’t help but think that no other country could possibly be as divided as our own.

Since Ireland is so heavily influenced by the Catholic Church, they may be considered “behind” other nations in terms of divisive political issues like this one. They only just recently voted to legalize same sex marriage in 2015. Nevertheless, the evidence of progression was glaringly obvious that day; and we got to experience it first-hand.

Just a few days before we departed, the results were announced in favor of the referendum. On the streets of Dublin, in the midst of hundreds of Irish voters cheering and embracing each other - I couldn’t help but feel as though I was a front row spectator to a compelling success in Ireland’s history. It was a powerful, chill-inducing and memorable moment.

Miranda Carrasquillo is pursuing their Master's in Educational Leadership through Bloomsburg University's College Student Affairs (M.Ed.) program. She is among a group of CSA students studying abroad this summer for two weeks in Ireland, visiting several universities to develop an understanding of the structure and practice of college student affairs in Ireland and gain insight into international issues.

Thursday, June 28, 2018

When I received my acceptance letter to Bloomsburg University in the spring of 2014, I was completely ecstatic. This was my top choice of schools, and I couldn’t wait to start my college career.

When I read the rest of the letter and saw that I would have to attend summer session, I cried. All of my friends would be enjoying their summer together while I was in Bloomsburg taking classes.
That’s what I thought, anyway.

Little did I know that attending summer session would be one of the best experiences throughout my four years at Bloomsburg. In my time as a summer freshman, I was able to make friends with the people in my classes, as well as my dorm.

There were only a few hundred of us, so everyone knew everyone. I had the opportunity to learn where the academic buildings were without the awkwardness of having to stop someone and get directions.

I mastered the art of when and how to do my laundry without all of them being taken. I got to know the people on my floor and made friends I’m still close with as I finished my senior year.

If you’re nervous about starting summer session, don’t be. For me, it was the perfect introduction to college life without the added pressure of the 500-plus people who actually knew what they were doing.

Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Before arriving in the city at Stranmillis University College, where our accommodations were, we spent a fruitful day trekking along the northern coast to see The Giant’s Causeway and the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. These locations had stunning views of the North Atlantic Ocean, rolling countryside, and rural Irish culture. As jokingly referenced by the locals, our company seemed to have packed clear skies and sunshine in our suitcases, as beautiful weather followed us to each new site.

Our first exposure to Higher Education in the UK came when we visited Ulster University, which is the second largest university in Northern Ireland, consisting of four different campus locations. We had the opportunity to experience two of these campuses; their urban campus in downtown Belfast and their rural campus in the seaside town of Coleraine. At the Belfast campus we heard inspiring presentations from Admissions, International Studies, and Career Services professionals. Since the Belfast campus is academically focused on art, we had the opportunity to see a remarkable amount of student work around the institution. In addition to allowing students to showcase their creative endeavors, the institution proved itself to be forward thinking in how it widened participation to under-represented student populations in the UK. We continued to learn more about Widening Participation at the second Ulster University campus in Coleraine.

At the Coleraine campus we were hosted by Provost Karise Hutchinson and her spectacular team. Karise sat and shared the authentic story of her journey through Higher Education and Coleraine to reach her position, and the trials that she faced along the way. Her colleagues shared their outlooks in their functional areas and we spent the day not only learning about how they work, but also drawing on our learned experience in the CSA program to share our insights, ideas, and suggestions for improvement. That afternoon we spent learning and playing Gaelic Football with individuals in the athletic department. Their athletic department is working on becoming a more inclusive area for students and less focused on the highly competitive aspects we know in the States.

In the middle of the week we found ourselves at Queen’s University in Belfast, which is the largest university in Northern Ireland. This was the first institution we visited that had a Residence Life department akin to those we have in US. Like us, they have a hierarchy of professional and paraprofessional (e.g., Community Assistants) staff. Unlike the U.S., however, the CAs’ primary responsibilities at Queen’s are focused on building community, with minimal focus on policy enforcement or crisis response. Other functional areas at Queen’s also discussed the importance of student inclusion around campus, especially because they have a high population of international students. This was made evident when we met with Stephen, the Student Union president, when he articulated the plan for making the Student Union building more accessible to all students. Many of the institutions we have visited this far have this same goal to create inclusive and accessible environments for their students to thrive.

Throughout our time in Belfast, we witnessed firsthand the political pulse of the community and the people living within it. Our cab drivers (who number well over a dozen), frequently shared personal stories about their lived experience during the “Troubles,” which was a decades-long period of violence, stemming from Northern Ireland’s status as a province of the United Kingdom, rather than a part of the Republic of Ireland. While we were assured that the bloodshed had long-since subsided, reminders of this period echoed in the memorial plaques affixed to the sides of buildings that were bombed, the exhibitions that filled the gilded City Hall, and the gates (nightly locked) positioned at strategic points along the ironically named “Peace Wall,” that separated politically opposing groups. In spite of these things, we found the city of Belfast to be remarkably welcoming, with a cultural atmosphere that exceeded all of our expectations.

Smith and Gowin are pursuing their Master's in Educational Leadership through Bloomsburg University's College Student Affairs (M.Ed.) program. They are among a group of CSA students studying abroad this summer for two weeks in Ireland, visiting several universities to develop an understanding of the structure and practice of college student affairs in Ireland and gain insight into international issues.